Leigh Whipper (29 October 1876 - 26 July 1975) was an American film, television and stage actor. He was the first African-American to join the Actors’ Equity Association, and one of the founders of the Negro Actors Guild of America. He is best known for his role as Crooks in the film of Of Mice and Men, a role he reprised on Broadway.Educated at Howard University Law University, he left in 1895 and never practiced as a lawyer. Without any dramatic training, he made his first Broadway appearance in Georgia Minstrels. His first film role was in the 1920 silent film Symbol of the Unconquered.During the second World War, Whipper was a member of the steering committee of Negro Division the Hollywood Victory Committee.